Chamonix Whole Plate Camera!

[nc-teesquare]

I am so excited, I just ordered a Chamonix Whole Plate Camera, with a 5x7 reducing back. I was also able to order 6.5x8.5 film from B&H. I can’t believe it was in stock! I plan on learning the platinum palladium printing process eventually, but for now will either scan or contact print. I’ve been doing 4x5 since the early 80s, and really looking forward to the larger format.
Anyone go this esoteric route?
Thanks in advance for any insights.

[Luis-F-S]

I think most folks move up from 4x5 film to 5x7 or 8x10, but going to Whole Plate is certainly understandable if you like the format. 5x7 and 8x10 are more popular thus the used inventory is larger! Good luck with the PT printing!

[Dugan]

I am getting into Whole Plate, after finding an Improved Seneca WP camera at a great price.
I shoot 5x7 also, but I like the proportions of WP for some compositions.
I contact print my 5x7's, and will do the same for WP on 8x10 paper.

[nc-teesquare]

I think most folks move up from 4x5 film to 5x7 or 8x10, but going to Whole Plate is certainly understandable if you like the format. 5x7 and 8x10 are more popular thus the used inventory is larger! Good luck with the PT printing!

I agree 5x7 or 8x10 are much more popular (that’s why I also got the 5x7 back). but I like the proportions and the size is between the 2.

It should be easy to use in the field at least compared to 8x10

[Oren Grad]

I've been using whole plate since 1998, prefer the size and the aspect ratio to 8x10. Started with an Eastman No. 2, over the years since have added a few more WP cameras including an early version of the Chamonix. I shoot primarily for silver contact printing - WP negatives print conveniently on 8x10 paper, leaving a margin for safe handling and corner mounting.

Congratulations, good luck and have fun! :)

[Nodda Duma]

I’m a big fan of whole plate as well! The Chamonix whole plate film holder is awesome btw.

[Sal Santamaura]

See this:


http://theonlinephotographer.blogspot.com/2007/04/more-about-ebony-sv-wholeplate_09.html


Even when shooting digital, I find my most pleasing inkjet prints are "whole plate" image size on 8-1/2 x 11 paper. :)

[Greg]

Welcome to the format. I think that it's been almost 5 years since I acquired my whole plate Chamonix. It is by far my preferred format to shoot for making Platinum/Palladium prints. Last year I had a small retrospective show in which I exhibited whole plate sized prints both from my Whole Plate camera and from several 645 and 6x7 B&W negatives that I had shot about 20 years ago, using digital whole plate sized negatives.

Mat size for exhibiting whole plate prints has always been a bit of a dilemma for me. A while back was the OP on this topic. When putting together the retrospective show I decided to frame my whole plate, 8x10, and 11x14 prints all in 16x20 frames. There was a distinct visual consistency for hanging the matted prints using the same sized mats and intern frames. Presently I am continuing on doing this with the plans and hopes for a larger retrospective show in the future. Recently I have been Printique.com making 20x30 inch metal prints (with a satin finish) from scanned negatives. These (future for exhibition) prints are truly amazing. Definitely not for any but a few whole plate images. They seem to especially work for the images that I have shot with my 90mm f/5.6 Schneider Super-Angulon XL without using a central ND filter.
For film holders I use the ones made by Chamonix. Before that acquired some vintage whole plate holders. Went through all the trouble of restoring them before actually using them in the Chamonix... dope head slap here: they didn't fit in the back of the Chamonix.

For lenses I have mainly used the following three:

90mm f/5.6 Schneider Super-Angulon XL: A really huge lens (a serious consideration) that fully covers the whole plate format when on axis. Definitely an extreme wide angle for the format and there is definitely noticeable light falloff in the corners. The optic can be had for around $600 if you are willing to wait a bit to acquire it. 95mm Circular ND filter was discontinued by Schneider and, if you can find one, will most definitely go for more money than the lens. I actually prefer the light falloff with this lens. An ultra wide wide angle lens and not for everyone for sure. For most users I'd recommend a 120mm WA Nikkor.

180mm f/5.6 FUJINON-W: Not all that large of a lens and can be acquired for a reasonable amount of money. Allows for some front standard movements. But lately have been using a 210mm Nikkor since it allows for more front rise for architectural photography.

330mm f/6.8 IA Raptar, 508mm (20”), 647mm (25 ½”): Again not all that large of a lens. I use it as a 330mm optic and also as a 508mm optic. Am presently fabricating an extension lensboard to use it as a 647mm optic on my whole plate. Also is my go to optic for the 8x10 format. Have a 355mm G-Claron and a 360mm f/6.5 NIKKOR-W, but both are an overkill for the whole plate format as far as coverage and weight.

For carrying the system, I either use a hard Pelican case with padded partitions or a F/64 backpack. The Pelican case and the F/64 backpack both easily carry everything. Tripod is a wooden Ries when shooting from the back of my car. When backpacking the whole Plate Chamonix I use a Gitzo CF tripod with a RRS ball and socket head.
Only criticism of my whole plate Chamonix is that the lens board locking mechanism is on the bottom of the front standard. Actually more of a non preference than a criticism. Much prefer it to be on the top as is with my Sinar Normas, but it is not even worth the time and trouble to change/modify. It's just that after changing lensboards on my Sinars thousands of times over the years, I unconsciously go to the top of the front standard to release or lock in the lensboard.
Hope the above is of some use to whole format users.

I think Adget used the whole plate format?... someone please confirm or correct me on this?

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Whole plate is the 'perfect' format / aspect ratio - have two cams, British made Eastman and a rebranded National from Butcher (yep I'll stick to vintage) - and ordered film in the special Ilford program ...should be there in december

[nc-teesquare]

I just heard from Hugo that my camera shipped! Can’t wait

[Alan Klein]

What is whole plate camera?

[nc-teesquare]

What is whole plate camera?

It’s 6.5” x8.5” the term whole plate originated in the mid-nineteenth century and was the size of a full sized daguerreotype plate. It’s halfway between 5x7 and 8x10.

[Alan Klein]

It’s 6.5” x8.5” the term whole plate originated in the mid-nineteenth century and was the size of a full sized daguerreotype plate. It’s halfway between 5x7 and 8x10.

Why use that odd size?

[Dugan]

Why not?

[nc-teesquare]

Why use that odd size?

1. Higher quality image than 5x7
2. Lighter field camera than 8x10
3. Great proportions
4. Great size for contact printing
5. Because I can

[Jim Andrada]

It's a marvelous size. I often print to WP from other formats just because I like the feel of the prints in this size. I do have one WP camera and it's easier to deal with than 8 x 10.

[Tin Can]

are whole plate films and glass plates historically sized to actual full plate dims

wet plate too?

[Alan Klein]

Why not?

Film and print size availability? But maybe you are using it for other purposes. So that's why I asked the question. Do you use other processes beside standard film? I'm trying to be educated on what whole plate is and what photographers do with it.

[Nodda Duma]

are whole plate films and glass plates historically sized to actual full plate dims

wet plate too?

Yes. 6 1/2” x 8 1/2” is the standard size. I cut mine to just under that at 164 x 215 mm

[Roger Thoms]

Film and print size availability? But maybe you are using it for other purposes. So that's why I asked the question. Do you use other processes beside standard film? I'm trying to be educated on what whole plate is and what photographers do with it.

Whole plate is simply a format. The nominal size is 6 1/2” x 8 1/2” and the the actual film size is 6 7/16” x 8 7/16”. As far as print size it is no different than other formats. You can contact print, optically enlarge, or scan. With scanning you have several options for output.

Personally my limited work with whole has been black and white and contact printing. I do hope hope to shoot more whole plate in the future, as I recently got new bellows for my camera and my recovery from hip surgery and subsequent nerve transfer surgery for drop foot is coming along.

Roger

[Mark Sampson]

WP was a popular format in the days before enlarging was common. It's been functionally obsolete since the 1930s, I think, as 8x10 took its place. So cameras are hard to find; few have been made in the modern era, and not very many vintage ones have survived the 100+ years since their manufacture. Film can be found or cut down, but holders are few and far between (not to mention potentially nonstandard sizes).
Still, as people here have said, it's a lovely format with a long history. I'd be tempted by it if I didn't have too much on my plate already.

[Sal Santamaura]

...The nominal size is 6 1/2” x 8 1/2” and the the actual film size is 6 7/16” x 8 7/16”...208542

For exact dimensions of Ilford film, see the below-linked post, which reflects responses received when I worked with Lotus to establish a de facto modern whole plate film holder standard in 2005 (subsequently duplicated by Chamonix and Ebony). This was approached by starting with the actual 8x10 holder standard T-depth as well as lock rib design/location and shrinking overall length/width.


https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?27724-Full-plate-film-size&p=261463&viewfull=1#post261463


The image Roger attached shows a box of TMY-2 from the Kodak whole plate custom order placed through Glazer's of Seattle in 2009. Those label dimensions convert to 163.5mm x 214.3mm, which fall within cutting tolerances specified by Kodak in 2005. However, somewhere in the Glazer's - Kodak communication process someone erroneously decided that the film should be smaller, perhaps confusing sheet dimensions with actual image area dimensions -- 157.6mm x 206.9mm in the "standard." As a result, Kodak film shipped in that order was so narrow it wouldn't stay under the rails of some holders. In my case, it fell out of Lotus and Ebony holders but was barely retained by Chamonix holders.

I'm unaware of any later Kodak whole plate orders or, if there have been, whether cutting room dimension settings were corrected for them.

[nc-teesquare]

Ilford Delta 100 in Whole Plate is in stock at B&H. I just ordered some more.

[Alan Klein]

Whole plate is simply a format. The nominal size is 6 1/2” x 8 1/2” and the the actual film size is 6 7/16” x 8 7/16”. As far as print size it is no different than other formats. You can contact print, optically enlarge, or scan. With scanning you have several options for output.

Personally my limited work with whole has been black and white and contact printing. I do hope hope to shoot more whole plate in the future, as I recently got new bellows for my camera and my recovery from hip surgery and subsequent nerve transfer surgery for drop foot is coming along.

Roger

Thanks Roger. So it's just another view film camera that shoots 6 7/16” x 8 7/16” size film? Is it regular film? BW? COlor? Who makes the film? Who sells it? It seems like a limited market and all types of film wouldn't be available. Doesn;t that limit you?

[Roger Thoms]

Sal, thanks for the back story on the TMY-2, that very interesting. I have shot any of it yet and will keep the width issue in mind when I do. Hopefully it will work with my S&S holders.

Roger

[Roger Thoms]

Thanks Roger. So it's just another view film camera that shoots 6 7/16” x 8 7/16” size film? Is it regular film? BW? COlor? Who makes the film? Who sells it? It seems like a limited market and all types of film wouldn't be available. Doesn’t that limit you?

Regular film, black and white unless you cut it down from a larger size. I'm sure someone has shot color but I can’t recall ever seeing any whole plate color images. Whole plate is one of the format available each year on Ilfords ULF program. So yes film choices are limited and whole plate is probably a poor choice if you shoot color.

Roger

[Dugan]

Film and print size availability? But maybe you are using it for other purposes. So that's why I asked the question. Do you use other processes beside standard film? I'm trying to be educated on what whole plate is and what photographers do with it.

Some folks do things to differentiate themselves from others....some like to do things that are difficult, to suffer for their art.
We have folks here on the forum coating their own glass & metal plates, doing obscure processes, making their own paper, etc.
In comparison, shooting WP is a walk in the park.
Ilford ULF / Shanghai for film, J. Lane for glass plates, 8x10 paper for contact prints..but good luck getting your film processed by a pro lab!

[Kiwi7475]

Thanks Roger. So it's just another view film camera that shoots 6 7/16” x 8 7/16” size film? Is it regular film? BW? COlor? Who makes the film? Who sells it? It seems like a limited market and all types of film wouldn't be available. Doesn;t that limit you?

I hope y’all realize ours is a race against time. The WP crew are just slightly ahead of the 8x10 folks, somewhat more so than the 4x5 folks, and about on par with the ULF folks. Ok maybe it’s not the best analogy but we’re not kidding ourselves, right? I can’t be sure that my still young kids will be able to do LF photography when they reach my age.

Let’s enjoy the ride though!

[Nodda Duma]

Regular film, black and white unless you cut it down from a larger size. I'm sure someone has shot color but I can’t recall ever seeing any whole plate color images. Whole plate is one of the format available each year on Ilfords ULF program. So yes film choices are limited and whole plate is probably a poor choice if you shoot color.

Roger

I’ve shot Whole Plate color... I cut it down with a paper cutter in the dark. Here is a Velvia 100 shot from a couple years ago.

208546

[Roger Thoms]

I’ve shot Whole Plate color... I cut it down with a paper cutter in the dark. Here is a Velvia 100 shot from a couple years ago.

208546

Right on, I knew someone had shot color whole plate.

Roger

[Alan Klein]

I hope y’all realize ours is a race against time. The WP crew are just slightly ahead of the 8x10 folks, somewhat more so than the 4x5 folks, and about on par with the ULF folks. Ok maybe it’s not the best analogy but we’re not kidding ourselves, right? I can’t be sure that my still young kids will be able to do LF photography when they reach my age.

Let’s enjoy the ride though!

At 75, I'm sure film will outlive me. And I just bought a Chamonix 4x5. So I have faith. Or stupidity. :)

[Kiwi7475]

At 75, I'm sure film will outlive me. And I just bought a Chamonix 4x5. So I have faith. Or stupidity. :)

Plenty of time to jump to 8x10, ULF, get into carbon printing and all those fun things... even WP if you really wanted ;-)

[nc-teesquare]

208578208579208580
Well it arrived today! Hugo emailed me Saturday evening saying it shipped and it arrived 3 business days later from China. This is beautiful Camera! The fit and finish is perfect and it is just the right size. Not too big and not too small. By the way, everything I orderEd,; film holders, camera, and wide angle bellows, came in its own carrying case. Can’t wait to shoot some film.

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Ilford Delta 100 in Whole Plate is in stock at B&H. I just ordered some more.

+1

[Ron (Netherlands)]

What is whole plate camera?

Ever heard of half plate camera's / film?


Why use that odd size?

Why is it odd?

[Greg Y]

Why use that odd size?

Alan, Although I don't have one.... they are eminently practical. I have a darkroom colleague who only shoots 35mm (mostly Leica)....and all he prints is essentially 6.5 x 8.5" on 8x10 paper. He just doesn't make bigger prints. Besides enlarging 5x7" I've contact printed both 5x7" and 8x10" and I think whole plate is a real sweet spot for contact printing.